Merchant Adventurers of York:

Inspiring young people to make the most of their skills

Dr Alan Suggett of the Merchant Adventurers Company presenting a Young Enterprise Award

In 1357 a group of local merchants came together to form an association and build the Merchant Adventurers' Hall which remians almost unchanged to this day. They were entrepreneurs of the 14th Century and traded from the then port of York across the North Sea to major European cities. They used the Hall as a place to conduct their business and spritual affairs and look after the poor and sick in the City.

Today the guild (or Company as it is now called) is no longer a trading association but many of the ancient purposes remain. It holds the medieval Hall in trust, operates the Hall as a museum and venue for events, has strong charitable programmes and continues to play an importan role in the business life of the City.

Children from local primary schools taking part in the NYBEP Primary School Enterprise Finals at the Merchant Adventurers' Hall

The Company aims to encourage and inspire young people, principally from York, North and East Yorkshire, by providing opportunities to explore and develop business or enterprise skills for their future and that of the region.

The Merchant Adventurers Company are proud to work in partnership with Young Enterprise and NYBEP each year to support Primary and Secondary enterprise programmes across York. This year we have worked with 19schools providing opportunities for local young people to explore and develop business or enterprise skills for their future and that of the region.